Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz today chaired the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, which reviewed the positive role being played in the service of Islam and the Muslims, by mosques and Islamic centers supported by the Kingdom in various parts of the world, including Europe and the United States. King Fahd commented that the humanitarian work Saudi Arabia carries out to provide material and moral assistance to needy people abroad reflects the noble message of Islam, saying: "These efforts, including relief shipments sent by individuals to needy people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Chechnya, Palestine, Somalia and Afghanistan, as well as state assistance to sister and friendly countries, are nothing but the embodiment of the noble and human message of Islam, which urges support for one another, cooperation, solidarity, love and clemency."

King Fahd then briefed the cabinet on his talks with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias, adding that the two sides' viewpoints were identical on the importance of stability of oil market prices at a level benefiting both producing and consuming countries while maintaining international economic growth. Turning to domestic matters, the cabinet passed a number of resolutions, including assignment of the Minister of Interior or his deputy to draw up a draft agreement with the Republic of Malta on cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime, illegal trade and drug trafficking; approval for Palestinian products entering the Kingdom to continue to be exempted from customs fees for one more year, effective November 26, 2001; and suspension of its earlier decision regarding a unified list of goods from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that were exempted from customs fees, with reactivation of the list of goods fully or partially exempted from customs fees between the two countries.